Flare cartridge



1965 A. M. WORTLEY, JR, ETAL 3,

FLARE CARTRIDGE Filed Oct. 16, 1963 I (D s I g ua 1 N R 2 0 NI: 1- uIINVENTORS AUSTIN M. WORTLEY, JR.

a BARRY ROTHMAN cu BY ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,202,099 FLARECARTRIDGE Austin M. Wortley, 312, Devon, and Barry Rothman, WestChester, Pa., assignors to Penguin Associates, Inc., Malvern, Pan, acorporation of Pennsylvania Filed Oct. 16, 1963, Ser. No. 316,580 2Claims. (Cl. 102-316) This invention relates to aerial flare devices,and more particularly concerns a flare cartridge which is adapted foruse with a pen-type flare launching device.

It is an object of this invention to provide a flare cartridge which isof improved construction and which gives superior results in use.

Other objects and advantages of this invention, including its simplicityand economy, as well as "the ease with which it may be adapted toexisting equipment, will further become apparent hereinafter and in thedrawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a view in top plan of flare launching device and a flarecartridge constructed in accordnace with this invention;

FIG. 2 is a view in section taken as indicated by the lines and arrows2-2 which appear in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a view in longitudinal section, and on an enlarged scale, ofthe flare cartridge.

Although specific terms are used in the following description forclarity, these terms are intended to refer only to the structure shownin the. drawings and are not intended to define or limit the scope ofthe invention.

Turning now to the specific embodiment of the invention selected forillustration in the drawings, there is shown a flare cartridge 11 whichcomprises an elongated cartridge casing 12 with a primer 13 mounted atone end. Primer 13 is preferably a shotgun shell primer cap, known inthe art as a battery-cup primer.

A cup-shaped pellet casing 14 is positioned in cartridge casing 12 withits open end 15 facing primer 13.

A flare pellet 16 is contained in pellet casing 14, and resilientignition means are pressed on top of pellet 16 for cushioning the shockof the exploding primer 13 and for igniting the flare pellet material.The resilient ignition means includes a layer of ignition mix 17 pressedon top of flare pellet 16, and a cord 18 covered with black gunpowderpressed into ignition mix layer 17.

Open end 15 of pellet casing 14 is crimped over to lock in place all thematerial Within pellet casing 14, and thereby prevent the ignition meansfrom separating from flare pellet 16 in order to insure reliableignition of the pellet. A roll crimp of end 15 is illustrated in thedrawings, but a star crimp may be used if desired.

A flash hole expansion chamber 21 is formed in cartridge casing 12between primer 13 and crimped open end 15 of the pellet casing. At theother end of the flare, a rubber shock-absorbing plug 22 is mounted withone end adjacent the bottom of the pellet casing, and the other endfacing the open end of cartridge casing 12. A sealing layer 23 isapplied to the outer end of plug 22. Another sealing layer 24 is appliedto the primer end of cartridge casing 12 to seal the primer 13 in thecartridge casing.

011 the outside of casing 12, near the primer end of the casing butspaced therefrom, are formed a series of en'- gagement threads 25 whichare adapted for quick engagement with a body tube 26 of a flarelaunching device 27. In previous devices, engagement threads extendedall the way to the primer end of cartridge casing 12, but these havebeen stripped away, thereby eliminating a number of turns previouslyrequired to thread flare cartridge 11 into body 26, and reducing thetime required for performing this operation. In addition, the stripped32%,999 Patented Aug. 24, 1965 portion acts as a guide to threadengagement, thereby facilitating loading of the device under adverseconditions, e.g., at night or in inclement weather.

The flare launching device 27 illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 includes bodytube 26, and a knurled cap 28 that acts as a base for compression spring31 which is positioned within body tube 26. Spring 31 acts against thebottom of a firing pin 32 that includes a striking end which is adaptedto enter the recess in retainer nut 34 to strike the primer 13 andthereby launch the flare. Body tube 26 is provided with a firing slot 35which extends longitudinally, and a slanting cocking and safety slot 36which extends from the rear of firing slot 35 at an acute angle thereto.Slot 3s terminates in a cocking and safety notch 37, and a short safetydeten-t slot 38 extends therefrom in a longitudinal direction and endsin a safety detent notch 41. i

A trigger screw 42 is screwed into a recess in firing pin 32 and extendsthrough the slots in body tube 26.

An eye bolt 43 is swivelly mounted in cap 28, and a lanyard may bethreaded through it and attached to the clothing of the person carryingthe flares launching device. The lower end of body tube 26 is knurled sothat the device may more easily be handled, even when wearing gloves.

In operation, trigger screw 42 is positioned in cocking and safety notch37 and flare cartridge 11 is screwed onto the end of tube 26. If device27 should he accidentally dropped so as to compress spring 31, triggerscrew 42 moves directly rearward in safety slot 38 toward safety detentnotch 41, and does not move into cocking and safety notch 37.

To fire the flare device 27, trigger screw 42 is moved into and alongcocking and safety slot 36 to the rear of firing slot 35. A wipingmotion of the thumb is used, not a push of the thumb. Then trigger screw42 is released, and spring 31 urges firing pin 32 forwardly so that itsstriking end enters the recess in retainer nut 34 and strikes primer 13to detonate it. The explosive gases from primer 13 enter flash-holeexpansion chamber 21 and ignite the ignition mix layer 17, which in turnignite-s the pellet 16. The gas also propels the flare to expel it fromcartridge casing 12 into the air where pellet 16 burns with a brightflame, the color of which may be varied by means well known in thepyrotechnic art.

The crimp on pellet casing end 15 locks the ignition mixture in placeand prevents it from fracturing and falling apart, and providesadditional expansion chamber space.

The flare is assisted in attaining greater height by a rocket effect asthe gases from the fast burning ignition mix are expelled rearwardlyduring the ascent of the flare. Eventually, the flare loses itsballistic stability, and starts to lob end over end.

The length of the cartridge casing 12 is important and is to be noted.It is about twice as long as conventional devices. This greater lengthprovides a pistol and rifle barrel effect that projects the flare togreater height. The seal 24 also aids in preventing the explosive gasesfrom escaping rearwardly instead of exerting full force against theflare.

Also assisting the flare in attaining greater height is the closetolerance between the inside of cartridge casing 12 and the outside ofpellet casing 14. In practice, cartridge casing 12 is 17 inches long,and the tolerance between cartridge casing 12 and pellet casing 14 istwothousandths of an inch on a side.

Primer 13 is a shotgun or battery-cup primer cap which is larger thanthe pistol shell caps conventionally used and is self-contained,containing anvil, primer mixture, and cup. It gives greater reliabilitythan the pistol primer used in conventional devices.

Seals 23 and 24 may be of any suitable epoxy resin, and pellet casing 14is preferably made of aluminum, although it may be made of othermaterials such as paper. When casing 14 is made of aluminum, it isconsumed in the flame and makes the flare burn more brilliantly. Cord 18may be made of any suitable fuse igniter cord.

It is to be understood that the form of the invention herewith shown anddescribed is to be taken as a presently preferred embodiment. Variouschanges may be made in the shape, size and arrangement of parts. Forexample, equivalent elements may be substituted for those illustratedand described herein, parts may be reversed, and certain features of theinvention may be utilized independently of the use of other features,all without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention asdefined in the subjoined claims.

The claimed invention is:

1. A flare cartridge comprising an elongated cartridge casing having aninside diameter with a primer mounted at one end, an annular sealinglayer sealing the primer in said cartridge casing, a cup-shaped pelletcasing having an outside diameter and positioned in said cartridgecasing with an open end facing said primer, said inside diameter beingno more than four-thousandths of an inch larger than said outsidediameter, a flare pellet contained in the pellet casing, a layer ofresilient ignition material mounted on top of the flare pellet, aflash-hole expansion chamber formed in said cartridge casing betweensaid primer and said pellet, an elongated rubber shock-absorbing plugmounted in said cartridge casing with one end adjacent the bottom ofsaid pellet casing, a sealing layer sealing the other end of said plugin said cartridge casing, and engagement threads formed on the outsideof said cartridge casing and spaced longitudinally away from its primerend for quick engagement and prealignment of the threads with a bodytube of a flare gun.

2. A flare cartridge comprising an elongated cartridge casing having aninside diameter with a primer mounted at one end, a sealing layersealing the primer in said casing against moisture, a cup-shaped pelletcasing having 'an outside diameter and positioned in said cartridgecasing with an open end facing said primer, said inside diameter beingno more than four-thousandths of an inch larger than said outsidediameter, a flare pellet contained in the pellet casing, a flash-holeexpansion chamber formed in said cartridge casing between said primerand said pellet, a sealing layer sealing the other end of the cartridgecasing, engagement threads formed on the outside of said cartridgecasing, and means positioned between the threads and the primer end ofthe cartridge casing adapted to prealign the threads with the body tubeof a flare gun, whereby to facilitate the loading of the flare gun underadverse conditions.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,044,360 7/62Stefan et a1. 10237.6 3,086,894 4/63 Bagett lO2-86.5 3,102,477 9/63Stefan et 'al 10237.6

FOREIGN PATENTS 652,542 4/51 Great Britain.

BENJAMIN A. BORCHELT, Primary Examiner.

SAMUEL FEINBERG, SAMUEL W. ENGLE,

Examiners.

1. A FLARE CARTRIDGE COMPRISING AN ELONGATED CARTRIDGE CASING HAVING ANINSIDE DIAMETER WITH A PRIMER MOUNTED AT ONE END, AN ANNULAR SEALINGLAYER SEALING THE PRIMER IN SAID CARTRIDGE CASING, A CUP-SHAPED PELLETCASING HAVING AN OUTSIDE DIAMETER AND POSITIONED IN SAID CARTRIDGECASING WITH AN OPEN END FACING SAID PRIMER, SAID INSIDE DIAMETER BEINGNO MORE THAN FOUR-THOUSANDTHS OF AN INCH LARGER THAN SAID OUTSIDEDIAMETER, A FLARE PELLET CONTAINED IN THE PELLET CASING, A LAYER OFRESILIENT IGNITION MATERIAL MOUNTED ON TOP OF THE FLARE PELLET, AFLASH-HOLE EXPANSION CHABER FORMED IN SAID CARTRIDGE CASING BETWEEN SAIDPRIMER AND SAID PELLET, AN ELONGATED RUBBER SHOCK-ABSORBING PLUG MOUNTEDIN SAID CARTRIDGE CASING WITH ONE END ADJACENT THE BOTTOM OF SAID PELLETCASING, A SEALING LAYER SEALING THE OTHER END OF SAID PLUG IN SAIDCARTRIDGE CASING, AND ENGAGEMENT THREADS FORMED ON THE OUTSIDE OF SAIDCARTRIDGE CASING AND SPACED LONGITUDINALLY AWAY FROM ITS PRIMER END FORQUICK ENGAGEMENT AND PREALIGNMENT OF THE THREADS WITH A BODY TUBE OF AFLARE GUN.